Snap table for binding machine

ABSTRACT

In a binding machine for papers wherein mechanical binding elements are first put into place and pressed together to engage ratchet teeth and then locked together by means of a block, a snap action support table is provided wherein initial pressure serves to compress the sheaf of papers and to press the binding elements into place and at a critical pressure, the support collapses to allow the table to move suddenly downward, pushing the blocking elements into place without further compressing the sheaf of papers.

United States Patent [191 Giulie et al.

[451 Sept. 2, 1975 SNAP TABLE FOR BINDING MACHINE [75] Inventors: Joe D. Giulie; Leslie E. Worcester,

both of Palo Alto, Calif.

[73] Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company, St. Paul, Minn.

22 Filed: Oct. 2, 1974 21 App1.No.: 511,242

[52] U.S. Cl. ..11/1 MlB; 11/1 R; 281/2 S [51] Int. Cl. B42C 19/00 [58] Field of Search 11/1 R, 1 MB; 281/25 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3/1924 McBee... ll/l MB 1/1929 Roe ll/l MB 1/1930 Roe ll/l MB 5/1974 Abildgaard et al, ll/l R Primary ExaminerLawrence Charles Attorney, Agent, or FirmRobert G. Slick; John C. Barnes [57] ABSTRACT In a binding machine for papers wherein mechanical binding elements are first put into place and pressed together to engage ratchet teeth and then locked together by means of a block, a snap action support table is provided wherein initial pressure serves to compress the sheaf of papers and to press the binding elements into place and at a critical pressure, the support collapses to allow the table to move suddenly downward, pushing the blocking elements into place without further compressing the sheaf of papers.

3 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures PATENTEB SEP 2 I975 sum 1 q 2 PATENTEDSEP ziws 3, 902,2 1 0 sum 2 n5 2 SNAP TABLE FOR BINDING MACHINE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to an improvement in binding machines for binding a sheaf of papers and more particularly in a binding machine for use with a binding element comprising a male spine having a series of studs extending therefrom each with ratchet teeth and a mating female spine with a plurality of openings each having a single ratchet tooth projecting into the opening and a movable block which moves into the opening to hold the teeth engaged when the papers are suitably compressed between the spines.

2. Description of the Prior Art Co-pending patent application Ser. No. 441,378 filed Feb. 11, 1974 describes and claims a machine for binding a sheaf of papers. This machine utilizes as a binding element a male spine having a series of studs extending therefrom each with ratchet teeth and a mating female spine with a plurality of openings each having a single ratchet tooth projecting into the opening. A movable block is provided for locking the ratchet teeth together. To utilize the binding system, the male element is inserted through preformed holes in a sheaf of papers and into the female element. The spines are then compressed toward each other to a desired extent whereupon the ratchet teeth on the male and female elements engage each other and, when a desired degree of compression is achieved, the blocking element is pushed into place, holding the teeth in engagement. The surplus lengths of the studs are then cut off, leaving the bound sheaf of papers.

In the binding system described above, the female strip must be held up and away from the cut-off blades so that the block is free to swing slightly away from the stud to allow the stud to move past the tooth configuration freely into the female strip. This was accomplished in the described system by the use of fingers which extended under the spine and supported the spine at spaced points between the openings on the female sping giving clearance to the blocking elements. The fingers were attached to a table and the entire finger assembly, including the table, was spring loaded upwardly against a stop with a pre-loaded force of about 100 pounds. Thus, as a ram comes into contact with the upper element, it forces the studs through the paper and into the female binding spine and snugs up the document with a force of about 100 pounds before the preloaded springs are overcome and the whole table assembly begins to move in a downward direction. Now as the table moves downward, the blocks are contacted by a fixed member lying under the blocks and they are pushed up into wedging engagement in the openings.

Although this is a satisfactory system, the use of preloaded springs does at times result in an undesirable action, i.e. as the blocks are being pressed into place, the springs are being further compressed, causing additional force to be applied. This force causes an additional compression of the sheaf of papers being bound and may even cause stripping of the teeth in the male and/or female elements as the studs are pushed further.

This condition is substantially eliminated by the use of the snap action device which forms the subject matter of the present invention.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a binding machine which affords the locking of the binding elements by the locking block upon the sheaf of papers being compressed between the mating spines at a predetermined pressure. The machine of the present invention comprises a support table for the sheaf of papers which table has fingers supporting the female spine, a ram for forcing the male spine against the papers and into contact with the female spine, a second series of support fingers positioned below and between the fingers on the table for engaging the locking blocks, and snap action support means for said table to support said table in a first upper position until a predetermined pressure is reached causing said support means to collapse lowering said table and papers causing said second series of fingers to force the locking blocks into the female spines. The snap action support means comprise support rods engageable with the table and detent means which unlock said rods permitting the rod to move from a first upper support position firmly supporting said table to a second position wherein the table is lowered and the second series of fingers are positioned between the fingers on the table and the blocks on the female spine are driven into locked position. The means causing a sudden collapse of the table is a detent for unlocking the support means upon a predetermined pressure being applied against the table from a ram engaging the male spine.

The detent means may comprise a ball bearing engaging a cam surface and movable to a release position upon the support rod receiving a force beyond the predetermined force. Alternatively, the detent means comprises a pin connected to a toggle linkage which engages a cam surface and upon the pin receiving a predetermined pressure the cam surface forces the pin to move, collapsing the toggle. The detent means locks the support until the predetermined force is applied and then affords the sudden collapse of the support forcing the blocks into place without further compression of the paper or danger of stripping the ratchet teeth.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a portion of a binding machine showing the snap action table being supported in its upper position.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 1 showing the movement of the parts when the snap action has allowed the table to descend.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing the snap action device supporting the table in the upper position.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view through the snap action device showing the position of the parts when the table is supported in the upper position. FIG. 5 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 4 showing the position of the parts after the snap action has taken place.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged diagrammatic view of the ball and cam in alternative positions.

FIG. 7 is a side view of another embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 8 is a side view, similar to FIG. 7, showing the action as the table snaps downward.

FIG. 9 is a side view of another embodiment of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now to the drawings by reference characters, there is shown an upper binding element generally designated 17 and a lower binding element generally designated 19. The upper binding element, or male element, has a spine with a plurality of spaced studs 27 extending therefrom, each of which has a plurality of ratchet teeth 29 along at least one edge. The lower binding element, or female element 19, has a series of openings 39 therein freely receiving the studs 27. Each opening 39 has at least one ratchet tooth (not illustrated) adapted to mate with one of the teeth 29. A block 43 is adapted to be wedged into the hole 39 behind stud 27 to lock the teeth into place. After the teeth are locked in place, the extra length of stud extending beyond the female element 19 is cut off. While the papers are being compressed, it is important that no pressure is placed on the blocks so that the lower binding element is supported on a series of fingers 32 which extend from a table 16. Table 16 is normally held in an upper position by one or more support rods 52 which extend up from a base 54. A predetermined amount of pressure on the table will release the support rods, permitting the table to move rapidly to a lower position as is later explained in detail. Mounted between and under fingers 32 are projections or a second series of fingers 38 which underlie the blocks 43 and which fit between the fingers 32 when the table moves to its lower position.

In FIG. I, a sheaf of papers 22 is shown with the binding elements being pushed together by means of a ram 34. It will be seen that the lower binding element I9 is being supported on fingers 32 extending from table 16 and that the blocks 43 are not in contact with the projections 38. After a predetermined pressure is placed on the sheaf of papers, support rod 52 which is supporting the table suddenly moves away, lowering the table 16, allowing the projections 38 to come into contact with the blocks 43 and to push them into place by a snap action and without causing any substantial increase of pressure on the sheaf of papers between the binding elements. The initial position of table 16 and fingers 32 is shown in solid lines in FIG. 3 and the second, or lower position, is shown in dot/dash lines.

The snap action support for the table is generally designated SI and it includes a support frame base member 54 having at least one movable rod 52 slideably mounted in an aperture in said base member 54 which rod 52 supports table 16. The bottom end of rod 52 is tapered as at 56 and it has a flat bottom end 58. The rod rests with its flat end against a ball bearing 60 which forms a detent to lock the rod in the raised position. The ball 60 can move horizontally in a second aperture or slot 62 in the base 54 at right angles to the aperture supporting the rod 52. One side of the ball 60 rests against a cam surface 64 and is urged against this cam surface by a weak coil spring 66. Under the ball 60 is a stiff leaf spring 68. The position of the parts is such as is shown in FIG. 4 and in solid lines in FIG. 6. The

ball 60 is held slightly to the left of the center of rod 52 so that as long as there is no movement of the ball support spring 68, there is no tendency for the ball to move down from the cam surface 64. Now as a critical pressure is placed on pin 52 by the action of table 16 moving downward, the stiff leaf spring 68 moves downwardly as is shown in grossly exaggerated form in dot/- dash lines in FIG. 6. This permits the ball to ride down slightly on cam surface 64 so that its center line is now slightly to the right of rod 52. Since the center line of the ball is now to the right of the edge of the support rod, an unstable condition is suddenly produced and the ball snaps out of the way, allowing pin 52 to suddenly move downward without any additional force. This removes the support from table 16 so that the whole assembly bearing the binding elements moves downwardly, whereupon the projections 38 wedge blocks 43 into place. Thus, the blocks are moved into place without incurring any additional force on the sheaf of papers and the ratchet teeth. When pressure is released on ram 34, table 16 will be restored to its former position by means of spring 69 forcing rod 52 upwardly. As rod 52 moves up, spring 66 will move ball 60 to the left, restoring the entire table support to its former position for a repetition of the operation.

Although a preferred form of snap action table has been described, other snap action devices may be em ployed such as is shown in FIGS. 7 through 9.

In FIGS. 7 and 8, table 16 is supported on the bracket 72, which extends downwardly from the table. Bracket 72 has a slot 74 therein and the upper arm 76 of a toggle is attached thereto by means of pin 78 and pin 78 is held at the bottom of the slot by a stiff spring 79. The walls forming the slot are inclined to form a cam surface for the pin 78 and with the pin 78 and spring 79 a detent to lock the table is formed which will collapse suddenly when a predetermined force on the table is exceeded. The toggle is connected by means of pin 80 to a lower toggle arm 82 which in turn is pivoted to the framework 84 of the machine. A weak spring 88 biases the toggle assembly slightly to the left against arm 90. As long as the parts are in the position shown, a considerable amount of force can be exerted against table 16 without any movement of the parts. However, when a certain critical force is exceeded, the downward movement of the table 16 will move the pin 78 in slot 74, as is shown in FIG. 8, forcing pin 80 slightly to the right of the centerline of the pins holding the toggle together, and as soon as this unstable condition exists, toggle pin 80 will move rapidly to the right collapsing the toggle, causing table 16 to move downwardly.

Still another form of snap action device is shown in FIG. 9. Here a rod 92 positioned in one aperture in the base member 54 supports table 16 and this rod has a weak spring 94 normally holding it up. The detent means in this device is formed by a recess 96 near the center of the rod 92 and a ball bearing 98 is pressed into this recess by spring 100. The ball 98 and spring 100 are positioned in an aperture at right angles to the rod 92. Such a device will support a considerable amount of force without movement, but after a critical value is reached, ball 98 will move off to the left whereupon the rod 92 will suddenly snap downwardly, carrying table 16 with it.

Obviously, other forms of snap action device can be employed to carry out the purposes of the present invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In a binding machine of the type wherein a first binding element having studs with ratchet teeth thereon is pressed into engagement with a female binding element with a series of openings, each opening having a mating ratchet tooth therein and having a block carried on the female element adjacent each hole and after a predetermined pressure is placed on the binding element said block is wedged into said hole to hold the ratchet teeth in engagement, the female elefor causing said rod to suddenly move to said second lower position upon said table receiving a predetermined pressure.

3. The machine of claim 1 wherein said snap action ment being held on a spring-mounted table having a 5 support means includes the following elements in complurality of fingers thereon, said fingers supporting said female binding element at spaced positions between the openings and the blocks and said machine having a second spaced series of fingers lying on a lower plane and mounted between said fingers and underlying said blocks, the improvement comprising snap action support means for supporting said table firmly in an upper position until a predetermined pressure is reached and including means for causing said support means to suddenly collapse, lowering said table without the application of additional pressure on the binding elements and lowering said female binding element onto said second series of fingers positioned below and between said fingers supporting said female binding element to force said blocks into said holes.

2. The machine of claim 1 wherein said snap action support means includes the following elements in combination:

a. a support frame,

b. a rod mounted for reciprocation in a first aperture in said support frame, said rod being engageable with said table and adapted to slide from a first upper position to a second lower position,

c. spring means for biasing said rod to said first upper position, and

said means for causing said support to suddenly collapse comprises a. detent means engageable with said rod for holding said rod in said first upper position and releaseable bination:

a. a support frame,

b. a rod mounted in a first aperture in said support frame, said rod being adapted to slide from a first upper position to a second lower position,

and said means for causing said support means to suddenly collapse comprises a. a solid ball positioned in a second aperture through said support means at right angles to the first aperture,

b. a cam surface at one end of said second aperture and a first spring at the other end of said second aperture, said first spring urging said ball against said cam surface,

0. a second spring positioned on said frame to resiliently maintain said ball normally against movement of said ball in the direction of said first aperture,

d. said first spring and said rod normally pressing said ball against said cam surface whereby a stable condition is produced, and

c. said ball being adapted to move against said second spring upon the application of a predetermined pressure on said rod whereupon said cam surface will cause said ball to move to an unstable condition, allowing the sudden downward movement of said rod from its first position to its second posi- 

1. In a binding machine of the type wherein a first binding element having studs with ratchet teeth thereon is pressed into engagement with a female binding element with a series of openings, each opening having a mating ratchet tooth therein and having a block carried on the female element adjacent each hole and after a predetermined pressure is placed on the binding element said block is wedged into said hole to hold the ratchet teeth in engagement, the female element being held on a springmounted table having a plurality of fingers thereon, said fingers supporting said female binding element at spaced positions between the openings and the blocks and said machine having a second spaced series of fingers lying on a lower plane and mounted between said fingers and underlying said blocks, the improvement comprising snap action support means for supporting said table firmly in an upper position until a predetermined pressure is reached and including means for causing said support means to suddenly collapse, lowering said table without the application of additional pressure on the binding elements and lowering said female binding element onto said second series of fingers positioned below and between said fingers supporting said female binding element to force said blocks into said holes.
 2. The machine of claim 1 wherein said snap action support means includes the following elements in combination: a. a support frame, b. a rod mounted for reciprocation in a first aperture in said support frame, said rod being engageable with said table and adapted to slide from a first upper position to a second lower position, c. spring means for biasing said rod to said first upper position, and sAid means for causing said support to suddenly collapse comprises a. detent means engageable with said rod for holding said rod in said first upper position and releaseable for causing said rod to suddenly move to said second lower position upon said table receiving a predetermined pressure.
 3. The machine of claim 1 wherein said snap action support means includes the following elements in combination: a. a support frame, b. a rod mounted in a first aperture in said support frame, said rod being adapted to slide from a first upper position to a second lower position, and said means for causing said support means to suddenly collapse comprises a. a solid ball positioned in a second aperture through said support means at right angles to the first aperture, b. a cam surface at one end of said second aperture and a first spring at the other end of said second aperture, said first spring urging said ball against said cam surface, c. a second spring positioned on said frame to resiliently maintain said ball normally against movement of said ball in the direction of said first aperture, d. said first spring and said rod normally pressing said ball against said cam surface whereby a stable condition is produced, and e. said ball being adapted to move against said second spring upon the application of a predetermined pressure on said rod whereupon said cam surface will cause said ball to move to an unstable condition, allowing the sudden downward movement of said rod from its first position to its second position. 